Dan Atori, Minna
Thousands of residents of Minna, the Niger State capital, ran in various directions on Friday, no thanks to a clash between some soldiers and policemen.
In a commando-like style, the soldiers from the 31 Artillery Brigade, in three trucks, stormed the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) Police A Division and held some officers and men hostage for hours.
An eyewitness said trouble started when a soldier was involved in a car accident with a civilian, the son of a retired Wing Commander.
He said: “Obviously, the soldier was at fault but he was behaving as if he was right. This led to an argument which attracted policemen to the scene.
They were later taken to the police station for a possible settlement by the policemen who were on duty but on getting to the station, an argument ensued between the police and the soldier, leading to the manhandling of the soldier.
However, a Lieutenant from the Artillery Barracks in Minna was said to have gone to the police station and pleaded for the release of the soldier, promising that the Army Authority will handle the matter and the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) promptly released the soldier to him.
On getting to the Barrack, a Captain, whose name was given as K.C Ezigbo, whom the soldier was handed over to, demanded to know who injured him and when the soldier narrated his ordeal, the Captain was said to have ordered his men to go to the station and bring the policemen who tortured and injured the soldier.
The soldiers immediately stormed the police station, disarmed the policemen on duty, seized the armoury and beat up some policemen who tried to resist them.
It took the intervention of the Commissioner of Police, Nsirim Desire, who called the Artillery Commander in Minna, Brigadier General Christ Ilouga, to ask the soldiers to return to the Barracks.
Some Minna residents, who thought the soldiers were fundamentalists or members of Boko Haram, fled.
In minutes, streets were deserted.
The State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Richard Oguche, when contacted said the Police Command was taken by surprise by the invasion by the soldiers.
He, however, said that the situation has been brought under control and that no life was lost nor further injuries sustained during the fracas.
All attempts by our correspondent to get the reaction of the military could not yield any result as the commander could not be reached as at the time of filing this report.
He was said to be addressing his men as a result of the incident.
